Full-tilt leisure

Fitness activities have become entertainment for many

By Tracy Ormsbee

Updated 3:29 pm, Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Nia Center founder Casey Bernstein leads a group on Friday May 3, 2013 in Albany, N.Y. A gala marking the 20th anniversary of the local Nia center and the 30th anniversary of the mind-body fitness program will be held Saturday on the 4th floor of 4 Central Avenue in Albany.(Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) less

Nia Center founder Casey Bernstein leads a group on Friday May 3, 2013 in Albany, N.Y. A gala marking the 20th anniversary of the local Nia center and the 30th anniversary of the mind-body fitness program will ... more

Members of the Cirque Eloize have fun doing flips as they visit Flight Trampoline Park on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in Albany, N.Y. Cirque Eloize's iD, which combines modern circus skills and urban dance in a bright, high-powered mix, is coming to Proctors, Aug. 1-10. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union) less

Members of the Cirque Eloize have fun doing flips as they visit Flight Trampoline Park on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in Albany, N.Y. Cirque Eloize's iD, which combines modern circus skills and urban dance in a ... more

Kiazhaire Banks of Albany goes up for a layup as James Edwards of Albany guards him while playing basketball at the Madison Avenue Playground on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union) less

Kiazhaire Banks of Albany goes up for a layup as James Edwards of Albany guards him while playing basketball at the Madison Avenue Playground on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times ... more

Looking ahead to the weekend, you might be considering a movie or dinner out with friends.

But these days, you're equally likely to spend a few hours at a health fair, on a virtual bike ride connected to Facebook friends, dancing Zumba or spinning with your high-energy, fit buddies.

Yes, these exercise classes and education opportunities are good for you. But they're also entertainment.

"The number of people going to gyms has gone way up," says Richard Lachmann, a professor of sociology at the University at Albany. "That didn't happen decades ago. Fewer people did it, and they tended to be really serious about it. They were not there to socialize, they were there to exercise."

Now it's a place where people who don't have a lot of opportunity to meet new people can go to have social interactions, Lachmann says, and "It's seen as more wholesome than meeting in bars."

While social media and the Internet have enabled people to stay more connected, they are looking for in-person social connections in places like fitness classes and gym facilities, says Allison Reinhardt, wellness director for Capital District YMCA.

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As an example, the 20 or so members of the Glenville Y's 10 a.m. water aerobics class get together to socialize outside of class with events like picnics.

"It gets more challenging as you age out of the workforce and your children age out of school to make those connections," Rhinehardt says. "That social connection is so important. Your mental fitness is so important as you age and it has been proven in studies time and time again that maintaining connections and having conversation and being instructed helps maintain that."

Last year, when Albany's Palace Theatre — usually a place to see shows or concerts — was looking for a way to open its doors to the community, director of ticketing Shelley Thompson thought of a health fair featuring alternative treatments like hypnosis and acupuncture. They weren't sure what to expect, but 800 people came.

"It really worked out well," says Maureen Neufeld, development and special projects manager for Palace Theatre. "It is important to the community."

Here are some options for ''health-tainment'' in the Capital Region:

• Mind, Body & Spirit Health Fair: It's free, and there are giveaways and psychics. The fair will be noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Palace Theatre. Look for onstage events and demonstrations and up to 40 local vendors, including psychics, dietitians, yoga studios, life coaches, meditation specialists, fitness studios, skin and health experts, free health services for kids and a flu clinic. What else are you doing on a Sunday afternoon?

• Zumba: "Ditch the workout. Join the party," the Zumba.com website says. It's an excuse to dance — and someone tells you every step to take, so you don't really need to know how. Some Zumba opportunities around here:

Classes three days a week at Rezultz, 150 Broadway Suite 165 in Menands, $40 per month for unlimited classes.

• Extreme 5Ks: The Insane, Inflatable 5K touts itself as "Crazy fun. Challenging run." You're in, right? You climb up and down a bounce slide, bust through inflatable doors, climb up and over ladders. The run will take place at Ellms Family Farm, 468 Charlton Road, Ballston Spa on Sept. 13 and 14. Register by Sept. 12 and it's $59; it's $75 on race day. http://insaneinflatable5k.com/eastern-new-york/

• Nia: Use all your senses for this movement practice, which has elements of martial arts, dance and healing arts and promises to empower the individual to do great things. Classes are offered daily at the Center for Nia & Yoga, 4 Central Ave., Albany.

• Ride a bike — virtually: Do you like riding a bike? Do you like video games? Check out the Expresso interactive fitness bikes available at Saratoga YMCAs. You can select an interactive tour of anywhere from 1 to 20 miles. You can play chase games, share rides with friends on Facebook, even invite friends on the same network to ride with you. The Capital District YMCA no longer uses Expresso bikes but has plans to add Matrix equipment, which also features the Internet, Facebook and virtual rides.

• Trampoline fitness: Admit it; you've been dying to try out the new trampoline park, but thought it was for kids. Lucky you, they have Flight fit classes, a tough, CrossFit-style trampoline workout, from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Flight Trampoline Park, 30A Post Road, Colonie. 952-0433, albanyinfo@flightalbany.com.

• Pickup basketball: Got game? Bring your basketball to the playground at Madison Avenue and Ontario Street in Albany and you can almost be guaranteed a game will be going on if the weather is good.